Vehicle-axle.



No. 783,056. PATENTED PEB. 21, 1905. P. LE SUEUR.

- VEHICLE AXLE.

. APPLIUATION FILED 00T. 28. 1903.

Patent-edi February 21, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP LE SUEUR, OF CALABASAS, CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE-AXLE.

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 783,056, datedFebruary 21, 1905. Application filed October 28, 1903. Serial No.178,835.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP LE SUEUR, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Calabasas, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Vehicle-Axle, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The objects of the invention are to provide a device of the characterdescribed vwhich will be practically dust-proof, simple in construction,economical of manufacture, and durable in use.

Another object is to provide a novel form of plate for taking the thrustor chuck of the wheel.

Another object is to provide a novel boltstop. a

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, and, referring' tothe same, Figure I is a horizontal section taken through the device, thevehicle-axle being shown in elevation. Fig. II is a similar view withthe retaining-bolt removed, and an oil-can is shown to illustrate themanner of introducing Oil to the interior of the axle-box. Fig. III is adetail View of the retaining-bolt.

1 designates the vehicle-axle, the outer end of which is drilled andtapped, as shown.

2 designates the hub, which receives an axle-box 3, preferably formedtapering, as shown, and provided with radial enlargements l1 to preventthe turning of the box in the hub. The axle-box 8 is a blind castingforming a semiblind axle-box, its outer end having a ange 5,' which isdrilled centrally to receive the retaining-bolt 6, the latter screwinginto the end of the axle 1 and having a flanged head 7, there being a4bearing-plate 8 and a leather washer 9 interposed between the flange ofthe head 7 and the flange 5 on the end of the axlebox. The bearing-plate8 and washer 9 are fastened to the hub 2 by means of bolts 10, and saidplate and washer receive the chuck or end thrust of the wheel.

As clearly shown in the drawings, the perforation through thebearing-plate 8 is slightly larger than the diameter of theretaining-bolt 6, and the hole in the end of the axle-box is alsosomewhat larger, so that as the hub rotates there is no friction betweenthe smooth l elongated wearing-surface of the shank of the bolt 6 andthe bearing plate or flange 5, the wear occurring on the outer face ofthe bearing-plate and head 7, the bearing-plate 8 acting as thehubretainer, taking the end thrust of the hub relative to the axle. Thewasher 9 is preferably constructed of leather or other packing materialeasily replaceable,and the perforation is sufliciently small to becompletely filled by the bolt 6, thus preventing the escape of oil andingress of dust or grit.

11 designates a shoulder for the axle 1. The shoulder is provided with arecessed flange 12, which houses spring-washers 13 and 14, which give aresilient bearing against the inner end of the axle-box 4. Thus when thewear between the axle and axle-box is sulficient to allow chucking ofthe wheel the oil is prevented from being forced out by the chuckingaction, for the reason that the springwashers are at all times closelypressed against the inner end of the axle-box and also for the reasonthat the washers closely iit around the axle. The spring-washerfalsoprevents end play, shaking, or rattling of the hub on the axle andcauses the hub to be forced outwardly, bringing the bearing-plate 8 intoclose contact with the head 7. rlhe shoulder 11 may be adjustable on theaxle and, together with the spring-washers 13 and 14, is shown in detailand claimed in another application of mine, filed October 28, 1903,Serial No. 17 8,8311.

It will be observed that the outer end of the axle 1 terminates short ofthe end of the solid cast axle-box 3, thereby forming an oil-chamber 15.The oil-chamber 15 serves as a reservoir into which oil or otherlubricator cornpound may be introduced and which retains the oil, asupply of oil therefrom being automatically furnished to the smoothcylindrical wearing-faces of the axle. The end of the axle is drilledbeyond the end of the retaininghead, is interposed between the end ofthe retaining-bolt and the bottom of the hole in the axle, there being acoil-spring 17 encircling the shank of the retaining-bolt and restingagainst the bottom of the hole in the axle,

bolt, and a bolt-stop 16, having a concave 9 inner face of the fiange ofthe IOO said coil-spring being longer than the boltstop. The bolt-stoplimits the inward screwing of the retaining-bolt, and the spring 17presses the head ot' the bolt-stop against the end ot' theretaining-bolt and causes the threads of the bolt to be tightly squeezedin the threaded-axle end and also sets up a trictional action on the endof the retaining-bolt, thereby preventing accidental unscrewing and lossot' the retaining-bolt.

Vhen the bolt 6 is unscrewed from the axle and withdrawn from the hub,it allows the spout oi' an oil-can to be inserted into the oilchamber orallows the introduction of hard grease into the oil-chamber, and afterthe desired amount of oil has been put into the chamber the bolt 6 isreplaced, thus closing the oil-chamber. The object of the elongatedsmooth wearing-surface on the bolt is to allow for the necessary slightchuclzing action of the wheel and also to permit ot' a close lit ot' thepacking-washer around the bolt. This could not be done i'l the bolt werethreaded its entire length.

While I have shown and described the preferred construction of thisinvention, it is evident that various changes might be made thereinwithout departing from the scope of the claims.

That l claim isr l. In combination, an axle, an axle-box thereon, a hubcarried by the axle-box, a bearing-plate on said hub, the outer end'ofsaid axle terminating short ot' the end of the axlebox and being drilledand threaded, a solid retaining-bolt passing through said bearingplateon the hub closing the entrance and traversing the chamber formed at theend of the axle for the reception of lubricants, and engaging with thethreads in the axle, and a bolt-stop between the bolt and the bottom ofthe hole in the axle.

2. In combination, an axle, an axle-box thereon, a hub carried by theaxle-box, a bearing-plate on said hub having a designedly large oriice,the outer end of said axle terminating short of the end of the axle-boxand being drilled and threaded, a solid retainingbolt passing throughsaid bearing-plate on the hub and through the oriiice in the end oi'semiblind journalbox traversing the oilchamber formed at the end of theaxle, engaging with the threads in the axle, and a bolt-stop between thebolt and the bottom of the hole in the axle, the end of theretainingbolt being convex, said bolt-stop having aconcave head whichreceives the end of said retaining-bolt.

3. In combination, an axle, an axle-box thereon, a hub carried by theaxle-box, a bearing-plate on said hub, the outer end of said axleterminating short of the end of the axlebox and being drilled andthreaded, a retaining-bolt passing through said bearing-plate on the hubtraversing the space for oil formed at the end otl the axle and engagingwith the threads in the axle, and a bolt-stop between the bolt and thebottom ot' the hole in the axle, the end ot' the retaining-bolt beingconvex, said bolt-stop having a concave head which receives the end ot'said retaining-bolt, and a coiled spring encirclingI said bolt-stopinterposed between the head of said stop and the bottom of the hole inthe end of the axle.

4. In combination, an axle, an axle-box thereon, a hub carried by theaxle-box, a bearing-plate on said hub, the outer end of said axleterminating short of the end of the axle and being drilled and threaded,a solid retainingbolt passing through said bearingplate on the hub andthrough the space at the end ot the axle formed for the reception oflubricants and engaging with the threads in the axle, and a bolt-stopbetween the bolt and the bottom ot' the hole in the axle, and means forrictionally holding said retaining-bolt from turning.

5. In combination, an axle, an axle-box thereon, a hub carried by theaxle-box, a bearing-plate on said hub with adesignedly large holeallowing the introduction olil hard grease, the outer end of said axlebeing drilled and threaded, a solid retainingbolt passing through saidbearing-plate and through the designedly large hole in the end of thesemiblind journal-box substantially closing the same and traversing thechamber for the reception of lubricants and engaging with the threads ofthe axle, and a bolt-stop between the bolt and the bottom of the hole inthe axle, the outer end of said axle-box having an inwardly-directedflange and a plate composed of suitable packing material resting betweensaid flange and said bearing-plate on the hub, said packing closelylitting around the retaining-bolt.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses, at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angelesand State ot California, this 21st day of October, 1903.

PHILIP LE SUEUR.

I/Vitnesses:

GEORGE 'l.`. HAGKLEY, JULIA TowNsuND-` IOO

